2009
NORTHERN WETLANDS - LESSER SCAUPS
by Robert Bateman
About the Painting
“Ever since I was very young, the boreal forest has represented true wilderness – swamps and bogs with their sweet exotic smells are not the habitats of tourists, but they are places that make my heart throb. Although I’ve mostly seen Lesser Scaups in their wintering grounds on open lakes, I decided to paint this breeding pair in the boreal environment I love so much.”
About the Artist
Robert Bateman
“Nothing strikes me as more diverse, prolific and remarkable than planet Earth… and nothing surpasses the beauty of the natural world. I want to absorb this treasure, understand it better, then represent it in my paintings. This is how I want to live my life.”
Robert Bateman’s realistic painting style, which presents wildlife in its natural habitat, encourages people to examine the natural environment around them. Several of his exhibitions have attracted record numbers of visitors, including an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute in 1987.
His art reflects his commitment to ecology. In addition to being one of Canada’s best-known artists, Mr. Bateman is an Audubon Society-recognized naturalist and one of the 20th century’s conservation heroes. He is recognized as an authority on the environment and conservation, and has used his art to raise millions of dollars for this cause.
Mr. Bateman’s honors and awards are numerous, including Officer of the Order of Canada (Canada’s highest honor). He has been awarded ten honorary doctorates, and three schools bear his name. He has been the subject of several films and books, including the following: The Art of Robert Bateman [1982], The World of Robert Bateman [1985], An Artist in Nature [1990], Natural Worlds [1996], Safari [1998], Thinking Like a Mountain [2000] and A World of Birds [2003].
